Lavaca County Texas

Please note that case counts are subject to change at the time of forwarding.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS GA-30 and GA-31

On September 17, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Orders GA-30 and GA-31 to reopen certain venues to 75% capacity and allow the resumption of elective surgeries in certain counties. Counties that reside in Trauma Service Areas (TSAs) with high COVID-19 hospitalizations are excluded from these reopenings.

Per the executive orders, areas with high hospitalizations mean any Trauma Service Area that has had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of all hospitalized patients exceeds 15%, until such time as the Trauma Service Area has seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of all hospitalized patients is 15% or less.

***All of Lavaca County, Texas is in Trauma Service Area - S and is EXCLUDED from the reopenings provided under GA-30 and GA-31.***

Additional information here: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/ga3031/

Why the huge jump in numbers?

On September 21, 2020,  Lavaca County will show an additional number of COVID-19 cases. Of those, most are older cases identified by state health department staff through laboratory test reports in Texas Health Trace, the state’s COVID-19 case management system. Most of those older cases occurred in June and had not previously been reported to public health by health care providers. That did not cause a delay in notifying individuals of their test results.

• Region 8 has identified a large number of electronically reported files in the Texas Health Trace system that will be added to the daily case count reports.  Some of these reports have been delayed due to issues with electronic reporting systems that have been identified and corrected by DSHS. 
 
• Region 8 has reviewed the data in order to report accurate case counts. These cases have been reviewed to make sure that they are classified correctly, they are included the appropriate county’s case counts, and duplicate reports have been removed.
 
• These cases have received public health follow-up through the Texas Health Trace system.  The majority of these cases are no longer considered active, meaning they are no longer thought to be able to spread COVID-19.

Why arent y'all reporting the same thing as the State Dashboard?

Lavaca County Data is obtained from DSHS Public Health Region 8, and there is a discrepancy between DSHS PHR 8, and the Texas DSHS Dashboard. Here's why:

The Texas DSHS Dashboard is now reporting COVID-19 related fatalities numbers based on death certificate data where COVID-19 is listed as the cause of death. Previously, they were reporting these numbers based on the reports received directly from local and regional health departments.

This change in reporting results in a discrepancy between the number of fatalities on the DSHS Dashboard and the number from DSHS PHR 8.

DSHS switching to COVID-19 fatalities data using death certificate data does not change how a health department (regional or local) investigates or determines the case classification for a COVID-19 associated death.

DSHS PHR 8, case investigations include obtaining Lab Reports, Medical Records, etc to confirm the individuals in question, who have passed away cause of death can, for certain, be attributed to COVID-19.

Therefore, LCEM will report the info vetted by DSHS Public Health Region 8, as submitted, and relied upon to make sure you have the most accurate information relevant to and for Lavaca County.

Again, numbers on the statewide dashboard, are based on death certificate data where COVID-19 is listed as the cause of death, however, DSHS PHR 8, will continue to do their case investigations, to verify that each death reported, can be attributed to COVID-19. Once investigations are completed, the information from DHSH PHR 8, will be reflected in the LCEM Covid-19 Report.

COVID-19 Resources -

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/opentexas.aspx
COVID-19 questions from the public can be directed to Email: coronavirus@dshs.texas.gov
Phone 2-1-1 Option 6. 2-1-1 is open to the public 24/7 to answer questions about COVID-19 symptoms, and related resources are online at http://www.211.org/services/covid19. There are two additional ways to connect: people can text “211Help” to 484848, or visit www.211texas.org to webchat with a Community Resource Specialist.

COVID-19 Testing Sites -

Need a test? Follow these steps
Visit: covidtest.tdem.texas.gov
Site search: Enter your zip code
Select: Locate the nearest test site and follow directions to register.

Registration for mobile testing sites is now available at https://Texas.curativeinc.com/welcome. For walk-up sites, registration can be completed on-site. For more information on additional test sites statewide, visit https://txcovidtest.org.

Slow the Spread -

Since March 13, 2020, the messaging from Lavaca County Emergency Management remains the same. We need your help to stop the spread of this virus within Lavaca County therefore, it is imperative that we continue to do the following:
• Wear a cloth face covering (over the nose and mouth)
• Practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Stay at home and stop the spread of coronavirus

To sign up for CodeRED click the SignUp button to the left on this page.

In January of 2018, Lavaca County, Texas Division of Emergency Management implemented its emergency communications system, CodeRED.

Residents are probably already familiar with CodeRED, which is used by Lavaca County officials to broadcast Amber Alerts and other information. Similar telephone notifications are also used by the school system to inform parents of upcoming school events or emergency situations.

The system is voice activated. The recipient must say “Hello” before the message will be relayed.

Lavaca County, Texas citizens and those with interests in Lavaca County, can log onto co.lavaca.tx.us or text “LAVACAALERTS” to 99411 to receive the registration link directly to your mobile phone and get their home or cell phone numbers included in the database.  

For those residents without Internet access, they may call Lavaca County, Texas Division of Emergency Management at 361-798-5628 to supply their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code and primary phone number. Additional phone numbers can be entered as well. Forms detailing this information will also be available at the Lavaca County, Texas Division of Emergency Management office in the Lavaca County Courthouse.

Again, the program can be utilized by both residences and businesses. If you have an unlisted phone number, have changed your phone number or address within the past year or use a cell phone or VoIP phone as your primary number, you should register for the alerts. Multiple telephone numbers can be attached to a single physical address, but residents cannot have multiple residences linked to one phone. Both IPhones and Android phones also have a CodeRED app available.

CodeRED Mobile Alert App Downloads

Critical Alerts Straight To Your Phone

With the CodeRED Mobile Alert app – the nation’s most downloaded public safety notification app – OnSolve enables subscribers to receive these notifications directly to their mobile device whether at home, on the road, or traveling around the country.

These mobile push notifications deliver relevant, location-based alerts based on GPS location to ensure you receive critical information when you are in a CodeRED client’s jurisdiction.

Click the links above to download the CodeRED Mobile Alert app to your mobile device.

Codered COMMUNITY FLYERS

Lavaca County, Texas Division of Emergency Management would appreciate you, our Lavaca County Neighbors, to help us spread the word about CodeRED. We've made posters and flyers that you may share with your family and friends, on social media, or printing and posting on your office or community bulletin board. Thank you in advance for your helping promote Lavaca County CodeRED!

 1. Resident poster
2. Enrollment Flyer
3. General Flyer
4. Weather Warning Flyer

LNRA continuously monitors precipitation and stream levels around the Lavaca and Navidad river basins. Even though the following information is made available to the public, the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority will not be held responsible for inaccurate information.

Early Warning System Map

Rain and Stream Report

Stream Level Information

Current Weather Conditions

National Weather Service River Forecasts

Lavaca River
Lavaca River at Komensky
Lavaca River at Breslau
Lavaca River at Hallettsville

Navidad River
Navidad River at Sublime
Navidad River near Speaks